Clinicopathological Evaluations of Cervical Polyps

INTRODUCTION: Management of uterine cervical polyps is a common debate in clinical practice. Ethical concerns complicate decision making as well as designing randomized or prospective studies. Thus, clinical evidence can be gathered from retrospective studies. Possibility of malignant transformation is also a concern in assessment and management of pre- and post-menopausal patients. In this study we aimed to identify if a difference exist in between these groups, and discuss our results with the previously reported.
METHODS: We evaluated results of 245 patients retrospectively. Totally 270 polyps were detected. Pathological results of polyps were compared
according to menopausal status and symptoms. Fisher’s Exact Test and Fisher-Freeman-Halton Test were used in statistical analysis. Statistical significance is considered where p<0.05 and p<0.01.
RESULTS: There was no invasive disease. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia type 1 was seen in one postmenopausal patient. Polyps were asymptomatic in 39.6% (n=97) of the cases and coincide with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in 53.9% (n=132), and missed abortus in 6.5% (n=16). Patients with polyps significantly tend to have complaint of abnormal uterine bleeding compared to other symptoms.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Routine cervical polypectomy is not necessary. Cytology and utilization of colposcopy should be considered prior to polypectomy, as well
as assessment of clinical and menopausal status.